SQLServerCentral.com / Editorials / SQLServerCentral.com / Sabbatical / Latest PostsInstantForum.NET v99.99.99SQLServerCentral.comhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/notifications@sqlservercentral.comFri, 09 Dec 2016 18:23:40 GMT20RE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]EdVassie (1/14/2014)[/b][hr]A sabbatical is about taking time out of your normal routine to do something productive that you could not normally do. I think you are starting well, putting some constraints on where you want to go, maybe no more than 30 to 50 miles from your home. Other people may want to travel more, but for you this is too much like your normal routine.If this was for me, I would want to look at the 'giving to others' and 'building up myself' split. Both are good options, and for someone who already gives a lot to the community a bit of personal focus can be a good idea.It is useful to be realistic at what can be achieved in 6 weeks. This seems a long time but it will soon go. If you want to do something productive rather than just chill, it has to be treated as a project. Decide on something you really want to do, and work out if you can make a lasting impact on the work in 6 weeks. Sort out your expectations and measure progress to them. When the sabbatical is done, do not get tied into a retrospective around something better you could have done - just focus on whether you achieved what you wanted.[/quote]Good summary and I agree. 6 weeks seems like a long time, but it will go quickly.I'm leaning to doing something for myself and something for others. Now need to figure out the scheduling.Tue, 14 Jan 2014 08:28:22 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxA sabbatical is about taking time out of your normal routine to do something productive that you could not normally do. I think you are starting well, putting some constraints on where you want to go, maybe no more than 30 to 50 miles from your home. Other people may want to travel more, but for you this is too much like your normal routine.If this was for me, I would want to look at the 'giving to others' and 'building up myself' split. Both are good options, and for someone who already gives a lot to the community a bit of personal focus can be a good idea.It is useful to be realistic at what can be achieved in 6 weeks. This seems a long time but it will soon go. If you want to do something productive rather than just chill, it has to be treated as a project. Decide on something you really want to do, and work out if you can make a lasting impact on the work in 6 weeks. Sort out your expectations and measure progress to them. When the sabbatical is done, do not get tied into a retrospective around something better you could have done - just focus on whether you achieved what you wanted.Tue, 14 Jan 2014 04:47:07 GMTEdVassieRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxAh Okay, good call. Good luck with that surgery. My father in-law just had knee surgery and recovered fully in under 2 months. Pretty good at 65.Sun, 12 Jan 2014 15:30:26 GMTKen WymoreRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Nelson Petersen (1/10/2014)[/b][hr]Is this a time of dramatically fewer interruptions allowing focussed effort on a "project" or is it a sabbatical?If it really is a sabbatical, you could start with the concept of sabbath and rest from there. I find it interesting that sabbatical and frenetic activity are considered equivalent.[/quote]The idea of sabbatical is personal growth. It's not frenetic activity, but growing yourself in some way, not necessarily related to work.Sat, 11 Jan 2014 11:28:10 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]george sibbald (1/10/2014)[/b][hr]learn how to make your own hawaiian shirts?[/quote]ROFL, I have wanted to learn how to sew. Perhaps I'll tag this into something I do. Maybe as a "20 hour" experiment.Sat, 11 Jan 2014 11:27:21 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]KWymore (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Train for a marathon and get a bunch of people to sponsor you for charity. Then run it about a week before you have to go back to work. Blog your progression through your training regimen and then post pics from the actual event.[/quote]I've done a marathon, but having knee surgery this year. Unlikely to do this. However, if my wife decides to try this at some point, I'll do it with her.Sat, 11 Jan 2014 11:26:32 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxTake a course to get you over your fear of flying? And any other phobias you might have; just get them gone.Habitat for Humanity sounds like a good one.Sat, 11 Jan 2014 06:50:18 GMTBeatrix KiddoRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]quackhandle1975 (1/10/2014)[/b][hr][quote][b]KWymore (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Train for a [b]marathon[/b] and get a bunch of people to sponsor you for charity. Then run it about a week before you have to go back to work. Blog your progression through your training regimen and then post pics from the actual event.[/quote]You might be pushing it with only six weeks, regardless of fitness/health. :w00t:[b][i]qh[/i][/b][/quote]Yeah that would be overly ambitious. A 5 K might be a little more practical. Also there are a lot of charity 5K runs.Fri, 10 Jan 2014 10:36:20 GMTKen WymoreRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxFor me, the idea of a sabbatical concerns the learning of something new and returning back with a new skillset and outlookI had more envisioned someone who had been working many years in one field taking 4 years out (unpaid) to study for a degree in university with the intention of returning to his/her employers.Fri, 10 Jan 2014 07:13:38 GMTSean RedmondRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxIs this a time of dramatically fewer interruptions allowing focussed effort on a "project" or is it a sabbatical?If it really is a sabbatical, you could start with the concept of sabbath and rest from there. I find it interesting that sabbatical and frenetic activity are considered equivalent.Fri, 10 Jan 2014 07:07:41 GMTNelson PetersenRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxlearn how to make your own hawaiian shirts?Fri, 10 Jan 2014 04:38:51 GMTgeorge sibbaldRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]KWymore (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Train for a [b]marathon[/b] and get a bunch of people to sponsor you for charity. Then run it about a week before you have to go back to work. Blog your progression through your training regimen and then post pics from the actual event.[/quote]You might be pushing it with only six weeks, regardless of fitness/health. :w00t:[b][i]qh[/i][/b]Fri, 10 Jan 2014 04:11:32 GMTquackhandle1975RE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxTrain for a marathon and get a bunch of people to sponsor you for charity. Then run it about a week before you have to go back to work. Blog your progression through your training regimen and then post pics from the actual event.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 19:11:49 GMTKen WymoreRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxI don't know the ages of your children that you have, and your distances from major metropolitan areas so some of this is going to be thrown out on the junk pile list.If your children are old enough take them along with you to a habitat for humanity stuff.Another one is to take them along and volunteer at a soup kitchen. I used to volunteer at a soup kitchen and one of my dives was to come up with soups that would essentially fill a person up with just one bowl and some crackers or bread.If your interests don't necessarily bring the kids forward all the time, I know most WoodCraft stores do a weekly seminar on woodwork classes.Here is a selfish idea: Do you need a standalone office? Do you have one? Build a small house from foundation to rooftop with the idea that if one of the kids doesn't go to college you can rent them the house. Or make it the in-laws or guest house.And then since it sounds like you have have some land maybe join the [url=http://www.idpa.com/]IDPA[/url] or become a [url=http://www.nssf.org/shooting/sports/]3 gun competitor[/url]. You could probably set up your own ranges.Just throwing out some ideas.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 19:10:02 GMTJim P.RE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]jshahan (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Do the inward journey. Start with something like Siddhartha (the book by Hermann Hesse). Check out some of Joseph Campbell's work (Power of Myth, Hero With a Thousand Faces). You won't regret it...[/quote]Thanks for the suggestion.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:56:37 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]jshahan (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Also, there is an excellent exercise in Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" that I would highly recommend to put you in touch with things that are important to you (as in your values). You imagine that you are attending a funeral in the future and it turns out the funeral is yours. You then visualize significant people from all the roles in your life (employee, husband, father, etc) standing up and talking about you. But you don't imagine what they would say today, you imagine what you would WANT them to say at that future point.What they say is what you value.[/quote]That's interesting. I'll have to think about that.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:56:17 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]ferrijd (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Hi Steve,If it were me, I would do a combination of things focused mainly on giving back: Take the time to stop and pick up some trash in my neighborhood, volunteer with a local non-profit or two, do something with family that I previously didn't have time for (volunteer at school, afternoon activities...), take that web-based course I always wanted to take... and maybe catch up on my Sci-fi reading.We're so fortunate, and I think that charity and humility are very important if for no other reason than they help us reflect on that.Thanks for all of the [i]Voice of the DBA[/i] posts![/quote]You are welcome, and thanks for the thoughts. A combination is something I'll probably do of something for myself, and something for others.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:52:19 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxHi Steve,If it were me, I would do a combination of things focused mainly on giving back: Take the time to stop and pick up some trash in my neighborhood, volunteer with a local non-profit or two, do something with family that I previously didn't have time for (volunteer at school, afternoon activities...), take that web-based course I always wanted to take... and maybe catch up on my Sci-fi reading.We're so fortunate, and I think that charity and humility are very important if for no other reason than they help us reflect on that.Thanks for all of the [i]Voice of the DBA[/i] posts!Thu, 09 Jan 2014 14:58:54 GMTferrijdRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxAlso, there is an excellent exercise in Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" that I would highly recommend to put you in touch with things that are important to you (as in your values). You imagine that you are attending a funeral in the future and it turns out the funeral is yours. You then visualize significant people from all the roles in your life (employee, husband, father, etc) standing up and talking about you. But you don't imagine what they would say today, you imagine what you would WANT them to say at that future point.What they say is what you value.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 14:53:00 GMTjshahanRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxDo the inward journey. Start with something like Siddhartha (the book by Hermann Hesse). Check out some of Joseph Campbell's work (Power of Myth, Hero With a Thousand Faces). You won't regret it...Thu, 09 Jan 2014 14:48:00 GMTjshahanRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspxSteve -- your personal profile says you live in Coloroda.(Hmmm, that State has been [url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/08/marijuana-sales-colorado_n_4552371.html]in the news [/url]quite a bit recently...)Seems to me you could attempt to grow a new business with some sort of recreational "herb". (Ha!) I don't know if that means you'd be growing as a person, though.Seriously, a sabbatical sounds fantastic. Full of opportunity. Man, your situation makes me think about your recent editorial about becoming good at something in 20 hrs vs. 10,000 hrs. What would you like to learn and perhaps become somewhat good at? What would benefit you or even benefit others? Heck, a sabbatical can serve as the starting point for something, not necessarily the start-and-end. So many possibilities...--PeteThu, 09 Jan 2014 14:12:12 GMTpeterzekeRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]hcDBA (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]:arrow:Here's an idea for you that would benefit you, your family, and your friends as well.Learn more about taking good care of our bodies. I mean learning more about how much damage we cause our bodies because of the food we eat, the liquids we drink, and anything else that goes into our bodies, like the soap we use, the lotions, shampoos, conditioners, sunscreen, deodorants, etc. - literally anything that gets absorbed into our bodies. We SQL Server guys are always looking to improve our databases, servers, etc. - so why should we not want to improve our bodies and make sure they are operating as efficiently as possible, while minimizing the possibility of "crashes" or "downtime"?Our bodies are so amazing and complex, and they can overcome so many attacks by foreign substances every second of every day (kind of like how we try to prevent our systems from getting hacked). But what happens when our bodies are overburdened by all of the bad stuff out there?I've been doing a lot of research recently in my free time because my wife was diagnosed with something "with no known cure", but I have come across people who have recovered naturally, by eliminating toxins and allowing the body to heal itself because it was able to regain its normal function after the constant bombardment from these toxins stopped (because of the people changing what they ate, drank, and other things they put into their bodies).Leaning more about this stuff will really change your life as well as those you care about!So if you weigh this sabbatical option against others, ask yourself what would give you more benefit - learning something that can potentially improve your overall health (and your family's health as well, and whoever you wish to share this with), or some other sabbatical option that you are considering?(Even prior to my wife was diagnosed, my interest in this was piqued after watching a couple of documentaries on Netflix - "Foodmatters", "Food, Inc.", and a few others as well.)[b]Best wishes on your sabbatical![/b] :-D[/quote]Thumbs up from me on this hc. I, too, have seen some amazing things that people were able to accomplish when they cleaned up their diet, drank plenty of water, organic coffee enemas to cleanse the liver (lol, yep, it works), etc. And I'm not talking about just feeling better and losing weight. I'm talking about reversing serious diseases. Everyone else won't even believe the people I've seen walk away after they were given 3 months to live, so I'm not even going to talk about it.More people should be involved in self-medical care and alternative/integrative medicine IMO. It's really about taking better care of yourself. There's *way* too many people living a difficult life and/or dying these days because they simply don't know what to do to help themselves. And they don't believe it when they hear it. It seems that the medical community is all about promoting medicine and not health, and unfortunately they have most people convinced they are always the first stop to health. It seems you have to go around them if you want to break the chain and status quo that is the current US-based "health care" system. I also have a major concern about the whole for-profit model and consider it to be a serious conflict of interest. We are not going in the right direction here.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:56:24 GMTsteve.fortner 92896RE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]dwhitley (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]3) Build the next Candy Crush or Farmville to take control of people's free (work?) time[/quote]LOL, if only I had a good idea here. I'd probably spend 4-5 weeks getting my C# skills back in order though.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:31:11 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]hcDBA (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]:arrow:Here's an idea for you that would benefit you, your family, and your friends as well.Learn more about taking good care of our bodies. I mean learning more about how much damage we cause our bodies because of the food we eat, the liquids we drink, and anything else that goes into our bodies, like the soap we use, the lotions, shampoos, conditioners, sunscreen, deodorants, etc. - literally anything that gets absorbed into our bodies. We SQL Server guys are always looking to improve our databases, servers, etc. - so why should we not want to improve our bodies and make sure they are operating as efficiently as possible, while minimizing the possibility of "crashes" or "downtime"?Our bodies are so amazing and complex, and they can overcome so many attacks by foreign substances every second of every day (kind of like how we try to prevent our systems from getting hacked). But what happens when our bodies are overburdened by all of the bad stuff out there?I've been doing a lot of research recently in my free time because my wife was diagnosed with something "with no known cure", but I have come across people who have recovered naturally, by eliminating toxins and allowing the body to heal itself because it was able to regain its normal function after the constant bombardment from these toxins stopped (because of the people changing what they ate, drank, and other things they put into their bodies).Leaning more about this stuff will really change your life as well as those you care about!So if you weigh this sabbatical option against others, ask yourself what would give you more benefit - learning something that can potentially improve your overall health (and your family's health as well, and whoever you wish to share this with), or some other sabbatical option that you are considering?(Even prior to my wife was diagnosed, my interest in this was piqued after watching a couple of documentaries on Netflix - "Foodmatters", "Food, Inc.", and a few others as well.)[b]Best wishes on your sabbatical![/b] :-D[/quote]Hmmm, good idea.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:29:56 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Steve Jones - SSC Editor (1/9/2014)[/b][hr][quote][b]krowley (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]No ideas on what you should do with your time but I would LOVE to see you solicit a bunch of editorials and articles from your community of readers to run while you are gone. I am sure there are at least 30 of us who would jump at the chance to write one editorial article for the newsletter.[/quote]You are always welcome to write one.I'll put out a call[/quote]If I am welcome to submit something maybe I will write it up and send it to you. I am really interested in the intersection of "data" and the "real" world. Ways of using small embedded sensors and network connected devices to improve our lives etc. Give the proliferation of this field at the recent CES there should be plenty of material out there.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:29:53 GMTkrowleyRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Steve Jones - SSC Editor (1/9/2014)[/b][hr][quote][b]Ben Westfall (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Learn to fly![url]http://www.aopa.org/Pilot-Resources/Learn-to-Fly[/url]-Ben[/quote]Afraid of heights. I don't like big planes, and don't get on little ones.[/quote]Hey, but maybe learning to fly would help with the fear of heights and dislike of planes.I can relate to the fear of heights. That's why I stopped growing, my brain decided that 5 feet was far enough off the ground :w00t:Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:22:47 GMT Jack CorbettRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Ben Westfall (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Learn to fly![url]http://www.aopa.org/Pilot-Resources/Learn-to-Fly[/url]-Ben[/quote]Afraid of heights. I don't like big planes, and don't get on little ones.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:17:16 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]below86 (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]If this is an annual benefit I would try looking long term at what you want to accomplish in life, outside of work. .... Now if I could only find a job that offered that. :-D[/quote]It's every 5 years. If I do something for me this time, I'll do something for the world next time. Or vice versa. Volunteering is important in life, I think.There are lots of companies that do offer them. Check out the last link in the editorial or Google.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:16:49 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b] Jack Corbett (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]For me a sabbatical, if it needed to be non-work related, would have something to do with sports. Since my oldest son is really into baseball I'd try to do one or more of the following:Baseball coaching clinics so I could offer better advice to my son and the other players I'd coach as part of coaching his teamsBaseball umpiring clinic - when my son gets out of little league/cal ripken we could umpire together at that level.Broadcasting school. I'd love to be able to do play by play or color even for a day.[/quote]I've thought about this. My daughter love volleyball. Thought about learning to coach this.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:15:33 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]John Hanrahan (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]You've mentioned in the past that you run at least some for fitness. You could go for 6 weeks of fitness crazy. It's now well established that exercise helps mental processes not to mention the stress relief you get. You could sign up for a triathlon, get a coach (there are TONS in Colorado) and at the end of 6 weeks do one. If you don't swim now you'll find it can be amazingly technical and precise which will scratch the tech part of your brain. And it will leave time for the family/ranch stuff.If it was me though I'd probably go for helping a non profit.[/quote]I've done a few tri's. Swimming is my best event, and I do it once a week now.The downside of this is that I'll probably take this in the summer, but I'm going to need knee surgery this spring. Not sure how "crazy" I can go. Or should go.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:14:47 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]DavidL (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]I didn't notice in the editorial or any of the links an explanation of what Red Gate expects a sabbatical to be about. It sounds like they have definite ideas. What are they? I think that will make it easier to give suggestions.[/quote]The guidance is to grow yourself in some way.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:13:43 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]krowley (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]No ideas on what you should do with your time but I would LOVE to see you solicit a bunch of editorials and articles from your community of readers to run while you are gone. I am sure there are at least 30 of us who would jump at the chance to write one editorial article for the newsletter.[/quote]You are always welcome to write one.I'll put out a callThu, 09 Jan 2014 12:13:23 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]GWAk (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]I'm puzzled by those of us who have, in essence, said 'take a sabbatical so you can learn more work-related stuff.' :blink: Go build houses, Steve... Habitat for Humanity or any other community outreach program would love to have you for a while. And that kind of hard work is DEFINITELY its own reward.[/quote]Habitat is on my list. Build, work in a store, even do some speaking for them. They are always looking for help and that speaks to me.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:12:51 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Rod at work (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Congratulations, Steve, the achieving 5 years with Red Gate, and thus being able to take a sabbatical! I've never worked at a company that offers its employees sabbaticals, so I can't advise you. I wish you all the best in figuring out what to do![/quote]ThanksThu, 09 Jan 2014 12:12:02 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Chicky (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]I think it's awesome that your company is giving you an opportunity to have a sabbatical.How about crafts, such as sewing, jewelry making, woodworking, etc.? It's even something you could do with your children if they're not too young. I recently took a day off from work to take a pen turning class and I really enjoyed it. Now I have to buy a lathe in order to make more pens...If I got the opportunity to have a sabbatical, I'd probably do some combination of crafts, learn the trumpet - using my husband's trumpet that has been neglected since grade school, and exercise a lot more.[/quote]Woodworking is high on the list. I have a bit of a shop, but lack some skills for sure. Thinking to jam in a class of some sort.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:11:37 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]chrisn-585491 (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Get your ham radio license and build an Elecraft K2: http://www.elecraft.com/k2_page.htm (Also Colorado needs more emergency response folks, take a class.)Take some chef courses and challenge Sean McCown to a mystery basket cook-off at the next PASS Summit.[/quote]Cooking, now that's interesting. My wife says I should do a couple things. Maybe some cooking thing at night...Thu, 09 Jan 2014 12:10:54 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx1) Pick a language you'd like to learn and only speak that for the first 4 weeks, then travel to a place where that language is spoken.2) Build a [b][url=http://www.railroadhandcar.com/history/handcar_north_2.jpg]railroad hand car[/url][/b] with your kids and then go a trip together on it.3) Build the next Candy Crush or Farmville to take control of people's free (work?) timeThu, 09 Jan 2014 11:54:57 GMTdwhitleyRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Phil Factor (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]One of the best sabbaticals at a place I once worked was a colleague who took a course to qualify as a Steam Engine Driver. He was an engineer in his working life but stuck behind a desk writing up specifications, doing admin and liaising with suppliers. He was so contented when he got back to work. He kept the framed certificate above his desk.[/quote]That's great. I have considered some intensive learning course.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 11:46:21 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]richardjarvis 96597 (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]Getting involved with a charity especially one that would welcome your insight in terms of their systems would be a worthwhile investment.[/quote]High on my list.Thu, 09 Jan 2014 11:45:41 GMTSteve Jones - SSC EditorRE: Sabbaticalhttp://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic1529191-263-1.aspx[quote][b]Japie Botma (1/9/2014)[/b][hr]How about special training for x number of people. Lets say for 4 weeks. It could be at home or close to home. You already have the training contacts. The group will have to pay their way, but they get the once in a lifetime chance to get special training from you. This will be a chance to give more back to the community and it means that your sabbatical expands to the group. :-DOf course it all depends on the availability of the correct resources near your home.[/quote]Sounds like work ;-)Thu, 09 Jan 2014 11:40:05 GMTSteve Jones - SSC Editor